Humidity regulator



Aug. 20, 1929. w B 1,725,071 I HUMIDITY REGULATOR Filed Sept. 27, 1927 3 TOYNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. GABY, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HUMIDITY REGULATOR.

Application filed September 27, 1927. Serial No. 222,334.

constantly and uniformly maintained in the compartment in which it is placed so that any excess moisture of the goods is taken up and any deficiency in moisture is supplied,

.and to provide a device of the nature in which unsightly accumulations of deliquescent salts are entirely prevented;

19 Other objects will appear from the subjoined specification in connection with the accompanying drawing which is illustrative of a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, and in which the figure is a sectional elevation.

In a general sense, the invention consists of an inner well or container for a chemical salt solution and salt crystals in excess of that quantity required to form a saturated solution, and an outer well or container containing water. The water in the outer well creates or provides a vapor ring or area over the surface thereof, which ring or area surrounds the upper edge of the inner well. Since the vapor tension or pressure of the water vapor ring or area is greater than that of the salt solution, an excess of moisture is provided at the edge of the inner Well containing the salt solution and this excess moisture prevents the deliquescent salts from forming at or creeping over the edge of the inner container. It is, of course, required that the device be not exposed to drafts or other conditions that will disturb the water vapor ring or area, and for that reason, the device is operable most satisfactorily in an enclosed space. Should any salts form, collect or creep over the edge of the inner container on account of any disturbance of the water vapor ring or area, they will be dissolved by the water, in the outer well, below the vapor ring or area. By a capillary medium in the inner well, the salt solution is raised thereby above the level of the liquid in said well and moisture dispersed throughout a closed compartment or absorbed therefrom when an excess moisture condition exists therein. A state of moisture equilibrium or constant vapor pressure is thereby automatically set up within the compartment,

and in this environment tobacco goods are maintained in desirable moist condition, without becoming overcharged with moisture.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the figure is a sectional elevation.

In a more specific sense and referring par ticularly to the drawing the device is shown as comprising a cylindrical container 1, open at the top and arranged to be supplied with -water, and an inner cylindrical container 2,

open at the top and concentrically disposed and secured within the container 1. As

shown, the inner container is diametrically smaller and of slightly greater height than said container 1, and is arranged to contain a saturated solution of a deliquescent salt, as potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate, with crystals 3 of the salts in excess of the sat-uration point of the solvent liquid.

\Vithin and resting on the bottom of, the inner container 2 and rising a desirable height above the edge thereof, is a capillary body or tube 4, preferably composed of absorbent material, as blotting paper, which is preferably colored, the better to indicate its moist or dry state. This cylinder or tube 4 is open at the bottom and top, and being immersed for a portion of its length in the saturated salt solution, the solution by capillary attraction of the tube travels upwardly on and saturates the tube 4, for portion of its length above the top of the inner container 2. By means of this tube 4, a large surface is provided from which moisture is dispelled or taken up, according to the condition of the atmosphere within a compartment containing tobacco products;

The cylinder or tube 4 is preferably protected by a cylindrical metal guard 5 of reticulate material, which is disposed within or associated in suitable manner with the outer well or container 1. This reticulate guard 5 is spaced from said tube 4, as shown and rises above the top and free of same. At its upper end, the guard 5 is provided with a suitable reinforcement 6, pmvided with an eye 6 or any other means for suspending the structure and formed to accommodate a cap 7 that is removably fitted to said reinforcement 6, whereby access to the inner well or container 2 is afforded for replenishing the supply of water or salts thereto. To indicate the level of the solution within the container 2, a float 9 is provided, to which is connected a. stein 8, that extends through an opening in the cap 7. Water may be added to the outer container through the reticulate guard 5 in any desirable man ner, whenever approach to dryness is indicated by condition of inner well or the appearance of salt crystals at or on the edge of the outer container 1 indicated that the water in said container has become saturated. This, however, will seldom occur in a closed space if the device is kept supplied with water. In very moist climate or atmospheric conditions, the salt will act to remove the excess moisture, in which event the excess water will have to be removed from the outer container 1. But in a closed compartment or show case, evaporation or absorption will be very slow after an equilibrium has once been established.

-It will be noted that the higher vapor pressure of the vapor area or ring'eXist-ing above the water in the outer well always prevents the formation and creeping of salts over the edge of the inner container during the normal functioning of the device. When, however there is a disturbance of the water vapor area or ring and by reason of this disturbance salt crystals accumulate and gradually creep over the edge of the inner container 2, they are re-dissolved in the bath of water in the outer container 1, and therefore collection of salt crystals cannot occur which would render the device unsightly.

\Vhat I claim, is:

1. A moisture regulator for closed compartments comprising a container adapted to contain water, a container within said first named container and spaced therefrom, the upper edge of said last named container equal in height or extending above the edge of the first named container and said last named container adapted to be charged with a saturated salt solution, the water in said first named container serving to restrain creeping of the salt and dissolve the salt which creeps over the edge of the second container. 7

2. A moisture regulator for closed compartments comprising an inner container adapted to contain a d-eliquescent salt solution, and a container surrounding said first named container and adapted to be charged with water for creating over the surfac thereof a vapor area surrounding the upper edge of the inner container whereby the salt of the solution is prevented from forming on or creeping over the edge of the inner container.

A moisture regulator for closed compartments comprising an inner well adapted to contain a deliquescent salt solution, and a container spaced from and surrounding said inner container and adapted to contain water to provide excess moisture at the edge of the inner container.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand.

WALTER E. GABY. 

